Happy 4th of July ~ America
"Despite the genesis of Independence Day, it is largely uncommon for Americans to express anti-British sentiment on the day or to view it as a celebration of anti-colonialism. Indeed, most Americans today consider the United Kingdom their greatest ally. Rather than specifically as an opportunity to commemorate the end of British rule in the 18th century, contemporary Americans generally perceive the holiday as a celebration of the U.S.A. itself and the political values that motivated the United States Declaration of Independence, including explicit principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and implicit ones of democracy, liberty, freedom, and equality under the law"
"....Uncommon for Americans to express anti British sentiment on the day or view it as a celebration of anti colonialism....". Nice eh?
posted by Alison @ 2:48 pm
6 Comments:
In spite of this Alison the UK is largely anti-American - see DT recent poll. Do people realise who props up most of the world in terms of aid and hand-outs without the USA the world would be a much poorer place. It just all adds up to jealousy - the Americans are NOT trying to take over the world rather make it a better place. I despair and it makes me very angry. If I were them I would withdraw all aid and just tell everyone to get on with and don't call on us for aid in the event of another war...get on with it.
I agree maggie completley. I think the BBC, The Guardian, Independent and The Mirror can take a fair old chunk of the blame. After all, like I've said elsewhere, the general public can be pretty dumb.
They rely on newspapers and television to make up their minds for them... And generally the media is swamped with lefty-liberal types... who hate America because they think it's cool, elitest to hate America.
well put guys
Despite the rancid UK media, plenty of us Brits see Americans as our closest friends.
There's never been any anti-English sentiment to July 4th. At least not for the last few centuries or so.
If you really look at the root causes of the American Revolution, they simply come down to the colonists wanting similar rights to British subjects in Britain.
In essence, the revolution was a revolution for English ideals and rights which were won in Britain after the English Civil War. As a revolution for private property, freedom of speech, and against government intervention in one's everyday life, the American revolution is far less sexy to the intellectual 'elite' than the French Revolution, which (surprise surprise) contains many of the roots of Marxism.
Thus, the American revolution paradoxically contained many pro-English undertones and thats why there's no residual anti-English feeling connected to it.
In a sense, July 4th is a celebration of the overwhelming success of a worldview which was developed in and exported from England. You guys over there who are fighting the good fight against socialism should empty a pint to July 4th yourselves, its an affirmation of your values!
Happy birthday to the USA. Here's looking towards another 230 years....
Great comment LA. And I certainly did yesterday. Actually someone accidentally emptied a pint all over me when Italy scored reaffirming their values no doubts!
AC1 - its a great accent. i sound posh you all sound cool.
Rasta - you try to zap us (me in particular) with your acerbic digs but i think i give as good back!
DV - yup. And I hate the media here, its pernicious.
Anyway CHEERS. Now if you wouldnt mind going to the top post and voting accordingly - thanks
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